ADL Deeply Concerned About Violent Attacks on Ukrainian Jews

In two separate incidents within a week of each other, Jews were followed from a synagogue and violently attacked by gangs of youths. A Jewish community patrol may have thwarted another incident when they apprehended a person, described as a skinhead, who had been conducting surveillance and noting the routes of Jews returning home from the synagogue.

“Officials in Ukraine must do more to provide the Jewish community with a sense of safety and security,” said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. “Amid the current turmoil in Ukraine, it is especially important for law enforcement, political, civic and religious leaders to address and condemn these heinous incidents and the continuing threats to the Jewish community.”

Mr. Foxman added, “The two assaults were clearly motivated by anti-Semitism, as the victims had no relationship with the attackers and were readily identifiable as Jewish. Ukrainian prosecutors routinely fail to bring hate crime charges against such perpetrators, and that lapse must end with these attacks. Law enforcement officials must raise their levels of vigilance near Jewish institutions to protect and reassure the community, and make every effort to bring to justice the perpetrators of the recent attacks.”

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.